Name of railroad fatality victim released

ROCK FALLS – Whiteside County sheriff's deputies this morning released the name of a Union Pacific employee who died after a truck struck him during a railroad construction project Wednesday.

Loren Daswood of Red Rock, N.M., was pronounced dead at the scene. Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi did not know Daswood's age or how long he had been in the area.

Union Pacific is investigating the accident. Wilhelmi said he also contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The accident happened about 2 a.m. near County Line and Cooper roads, about 8 miles south of Rock Falls.

According to deputies, a lowboy semitrailer, which is used to haul heavy equipment, was backing up to unload equipment along the trucks when it ran into Daswood.

The semitrailer had both hazard lights and an audible reverse alarm, Wilhelmi said.

Wilhelmi said deputies don't know why Daswood was unable to get out of the way in time or whether he could hear or see the semitrailer backing up.

Union Pacific Railroad is replacing 22 miles of rail between Nelson and Manlius. The around-the-clock, $11 million project on the north-south line started July 31 and is expected to be finished by month's end.